Late for School

posted April 19th, 2016, 6:13 am

author comments

April 19th, 2016, 6:13 am

Writer's block happened while trying to write last night, so I decided to draw. But even my art wasn't working for me. I originally started out wanting to do some Magnolia fanart from Bravely Second. I was having so much trouble with her design for some reason though, so I decided to draw one of the characters from my own story, Shangri-La. Even that wasn't working out for me though.

I almost gave up altogether, but then I saw a picture of a seifuku (the sailor-looking Japanese school uniform) in my Facebook feed and thought how I'd always wanted to draw Rain wearing one. This was where something finally worked out for me.

It's funny. Very early in my comic posting days, I got some criticism for being a "weeaboo" because I had the characters go to a school with uniforms (of all things). Now, I can't deny that I'm more than a little bit weeby, but that thought never crossed my mind. After all, school uniforms exist in real life; not JUST in Japan or in anime. XD

But this popped into my head again when I decided to draw Rain like this, so I went the extra mile to add some anime tropes like having her run to school through the cherry blossoms with a piece of toast hanging out of her mouth. I'm sure I could've taken it further, but my mind started drawing blanks. I did however add little touches for her character with a Kaminari ornament hanging from her bag, the Puddle hairpin, and of course, the trans pride-colored seifuku.

Not much else to say. This is an unusual thing for me to draw, but I kinda dig it. I hope you do too. ^_^

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September 26th, 2017, 4:55 pm

user comments

April 19th, 2016, 6:20 am

Have to admit I would easily miss some of the details if not pointed out but nothing wrong with the picture. If uniforms make you a weeaboo I worry that I was made into one most of my educational life (I was in uniform for schooling till 16/17.
As a lover of manga (and by extension anime but prefer the source material more generally), I approve of this picture. :)

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April 19th, 2016, 6:21 am

Never

Never understood the toast thing but it is seen in many anime and manga. I do like this picture very much though. I alway been a big fan of Sailor Mars and it is why I use the Japanese way of spelling REI in my name. Rei is the name most call me but Anna is the female name I choose long ago. So I use them together as Anna Rei now.https://www.gofundme.com/68zqypmc

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April 19th, 2016, 8:01 pm

@Anna Rei: The toast thing is because Japan has/had a mild stigma against eating in public. The character has the toast hanging out of their mouth because they're so rushed that they must break this rule.

April 19th, 2016, 10:02 pm

I remember being introduced to Ranma 1/2 when I was 12 or 13, which was the first time I saw the nose bleed thing. My friend showing it to me basically described it as "the anime equivalent of an erection, because they couldn't actually depict in a show like that." Based on the context of anime nosebleeds pretty much always being a response to someone being exceptionally cute/sexy, I always felt inclined to believe that (whether there's any truth to it or not).

April 19th, 2016, 11:37 pm

@Anna Rei: Basically what Littlelynn84 said- a nosebleed in anime/manga is shorthand for showing arousal, with the severity of the bleeding being a visual representation for how turned on the character is supposed to be. Supposedly it comes from a Japanese old wives tale that your nose gets bigger when you see something dirty, but I don't know if that's really the source.

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April 20th, 2016, 3:10 am

@Microrapter: I actually knew about that I just wanted to see if some one could explain it better as I suck at spelling and writing as I have a reading and writing disability I mostly over come with my high 180 IQ. I am very smart in many ways but that part of my brain seems to give up that so other parts are smarter. :P

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April 20th, 2016, 6:28 am

@Anna Rei: From what I understand on my (very) limited research into it, when someone is aroused their blood pressure rises, and that can cause a nose bleed. The rising blood pressure more commonly gives people erections however.

April 20th, 2016, 12:35 pm

@SerraBritt: I had a female friends once that got nose bleeds all the time and she see some guy she liked and get them but almost anything that excited her did that. If she jumped up in the air or changed elevation to fast like waking down stairs it happened to. :P

April 19th, 2016, 2:25 pm

Oh, and speaking of Rain being adorable, when I was bingeing on the first 3 volumes over the weekend, I was paying a little more attention to the chapter title pages than I really had before. Just wanted to mention the chapter 4 page - Rain is especially cute. I know she looks uncomfortable with Gavin, but you just captured her so well.